Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Sodium floodlights illume voters queued up in the rain, to drop off their ballots at the Multnomah Co. Elections office at Morrison & SE 11th in Portland, OR, the day before the election at 6PM. That's dedication in democracy.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

I've also been the victim of gut-busting, agonizing pain from food poisoning so bad I spent three days in hospital. Think about these eateries and their inspection scores, and then consider, the next time you visit them, asking what they've done to make sure they ace the inspection next time.

http://www.clackamas.us/community_health/eh/restaurants.htm explains how the rating system works. Critical issues cost 4 or 5 points, whereas lesser failures to protect your health only 1 or 2 points. Points for repeat offenses of both kinds are doubled. Italicized results below are the result of a complaint to the health department (503-655-8384) and the subsequent inspection.

You can click on the title of this post for an updated list of restaurants and scores, or get scores for any other food service establishment in the county.

And, now for the Hall of Shame:

Score

Restaurant

Inspected

70

Dragon Inn Rest.

14411 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-9686

02/14

77

Chan's Steakery

10477 SE Main St

503-653-2709

12/17

77

Domenic's Bar & Grill

16065 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-6969

11/06

79

Chopsticks Express I

10801 SE Main St #0

503-659-2950

05/13

82

Panda Buffet

16251 SE Mcloughlin

503-652-0515

05/09

82

Tartan & Thistle

11050 SE 21st

503-657-1507

11/19

82

Winchells Donuts

19500 Mcloughlin

503-657-3197

01/16

83

Chan's Garden Rest.

14790 SE Webster Rd

503-652-2828

11/19

85

Casa De Tamales

10605 SE Main St

503-654-4423

02/26

85

Dolphin Seafood Rest.

17180 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-9366

02/14

85

Mai Wah Rest.

18088 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-0323

05/13

85

Oak Grove Bar & Grill

2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd

503-654-6343

12/10

85

Panaderia Cinco De Mayo 2

17419 SE Mcloughlin

503-998-2960

12/18

85

Super Burrito Express

10546 SE 42nd

503-786-9370

05/13

85

Hong Kong 97

17405 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-3336

04/08

86

Arrivederci Wine & Gifts

17025 SE Mcloughlin

503-781-3873

04/22

86

Porterhouse Rest & Par Lng

14611 SE Mcloughlin

503-794-9450

05/13

86

Soy Grill

20010 Mc Loughlin Blvd

503-655-5780

03/24

87

El Tapatio Rest.

15192 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-8654

03/17

87

Int'l Hse o'Pancakes 681

14617 SE Mcloughlin

503-653-2710

03/17

87

McGrath's Publ Fish Hse

11050 SE Oak St

503-653-8070

05/13

88

Hartwell's

10608 SE Main St

503-387-5866

05

88

Lew's Drive Inn

14911 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-6648

03/17

88

Wichita Pub

6106 SE King Rd

503-654-4201

04/18

89

Brew Bar & Grill

10933 SE Main Street

503-653-6369

12/19

89

Buster's TX Style B-B-Q

17883 E Mcloughlin

503-652-1076

05/09

89

Chang's Mongolian Grill

18925 SE Mcloughlin

503-655-2323

05/08

89

Gaffers Pub

18515 Webster Rd

503-516-5295

03/16

89

Kwang Chow Rest.

7980 SE King Rd

503-659-1160

12/26

89

Mekong Thai Cuisine

10880 SE Mcloughlin

503-594-2888

12/05

89

Stanley's Corner

19905 SE Mcloughlin

503-655-5544

04/23

89

Subway #10335

19516 SE Mcloughlin

503-803-4923

01/16

89

Wind Horse Coff & Tea

10611 SE Main St

503-659-1000

02/25

90

High Rocks Pub

915 E Arlington

503-656-1111

04/13

90

Mike's Drive In

3045 SE Harrison St

503-654-0131

04/28

90

Sharis Rest.

11030 SE Oak St

503-652-4035

03/31

90

Taco Bell #4088

11000 SE Oak St

503-659-2960

02/19

91

Elk Rock Bar & Grill

14211 SE Mcloughlin

503-786-0410

04/17

91

Historic Broetje House

3101 SE Courtney

503-659-8860

04/22

91

Imperial Garden Rest.

15350 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-1280

03/17

91

Pizza Schmizza

14624 & Sstreet &

503-496-0873

04/28

91

Ranch Tavern

18601 SE Mcloughlin

503-653-9152

02/25

91

Stuart Anderson's Cattle Co

16323 SE Mcloughlin

503-653-2700

12/17

91

Vogies Bar, Llc

464 Portland Ave

503-657-3626

03/16

92

Gladstone Card Room

420 Portland Ave

503-657-1977

03/16

92

Kentucky Fried Chik313

14715 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-2580

02/14

92

Mi Pueblo

10543 SE Fuller Rd

503-653-4194

05/08

92

Quizno's

10983 SE Oak St #107

503-594-2118

04/24

92

River Road House Pub

11921 SE 22nd

503-653-5885

12/27

92

Roake's

18103 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-7075

03/17

93

Big Town Hero

4630 SE Int'l. Wy #201

503-652-5428

04/24

93

Dominos Pizza - McLouglin

15117 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-4950

04/29

93

Foxy's

11094 SE Main St

503-654-8800

01/15

93

G-G's Rest.

15717 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-5553

04/18

93

Healing Place Cafe

10330 SE 32nd Ave

503-513-8342

02/06

93

Lacey's Bomber Inn

13515 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-9306

12/05

93

Libbeys Rest.

11056 SE Main St

503-653-2044

03/13

93

Maddy's

18080 SE Mcloughlin

503-786-4761

01/10

93

Oak Grove Cinemas

16100 SE Mcloughlin

503-653-3511

02/14

93

Wendy's - Milwaukie

17217 SE Mcloughlin

503-653-2472

04/08

93

Wongs Garden

10820 SE Oak St

503-794-2879

12/17

94

Amadeus Manor

2122 SE Sparrow St

503-659-1735

11/29

94

Cha Cha Cha Mexican Taqr

11008 SE Main St

503-659-2193

02/26

94

Econolodge

17330 SE Mc Loughlin

503-654-2222

05/14

94

Gladstone Lanes

20100 SE Mcloughlin

503-656-4266

02/20

94

Got Curry

2818 SE Park Ave

503-652-4050

12/31

94

Little Caesar's Pizza

17038 SE Mcloughlin

971-570-2504

02/14

94

Pogys #3

17185 SE Mcloughlin #h

503-652-0120

02/25

94

Red Brick Pizza

10843 SE Oak St Suite 106

503-702-7422

05/06

94

Tonys Bistro

6400 SE Lake Rd #101

503-353-8900

11/27

95

Amer Legion Post #180

2146 SE Monroe

503-659-1300

12/28

95

Da Vinci's Italiano Ristorante

12615 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-3547

05/08

95

Drift On Inn Bar & Grill

12611 SE Mcloughlin

503-652-7966

01/15

95

Figaros

18911 Portland Ave

503-656-5556

02/25

95

Happy Rock Coffee Co

465 Portland Ave

503-650-4876

04/13

95

Mcdonalds - Gladstone

820 E Berkeley

503-557-9951

02

95

Mcdonalds - Johnsn Crk

8151 SE Lamphier

503-774-2960

04/08

95

Mcdonalds - Mcloughlin

15870 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-6268

03/10

95

Mcdonalds - Milwaukie

10970 SE Oak

503-659-0979

03/17

95

Milwaukie Luth Church

3810 SE Lake Rd-6097

503-653-0250

02/20

95

Mo Betta Deli

6110 SE King Rd

503-653-5487

04/18

95

Rigoberto's Taco Shop

15855 SE Mcloughlin

503-659-8124

12/18

95

St John The Bapt Chrch

10955 SE 25th Ave

503-654-5449

01/17

95

Subway - Milwaukie

15031 SE Mcloughlin

503-786-1660

03/17

95

Tods Pizza Pit Stop

17254 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-5555

02/25

95

Waterfalls Cafe

12705 SE River Rd

503-652-6330

01/18

96

Cafe Bon Jour

4360 SE Int'l. Way #200

503-697-3242

04/11

96

Dominos Pizza -32nd Av

10586 SE 32nd Ave

503-659-5585

01/15

96

Dottys #10

10812-B SE Oak St

503-786-2516

01/10

96

G G's Delicatessen

15717 Mcnerthney Ent Inc

503-654-2428

01/14

96

Hong Kong 97

6128 SE King Road Suite B

503-786-4567

04/18

96

Larry's Rest.

8081 SE King Rd

503-771-0216

03/10

96

Pete's Lair Tavern

17720 SE Mcloughlin

503-652-1430

03/17

96

St Johns Episc Church

2036 SE Jefferson

503-653-5880

02/20

96

Sushi Kata Japanese Rest

13809 SE Mcloughlin

503-653-0302

12/18

96

Taco Bell #19200

16300 SE Mcloughlin

503-654-8097

02/19

And, these eateries get an honorable mention, for they scored 97-99 points, which means they could not have had a major violation. Not perfect (and, why not, one might ask?) but nothing major:

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

First we must solicit your confidence in this issue. This is by virtue as being utterly confidential and "top secret".

We are SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON, the wife of the former United States head of state, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, and also SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, friend and associate of current head of state PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH. We got your contact through business inquiries as we were searching for contacts of a citizen who can help save our and our family's political careers since our country has been frustrating us.

We are top officials of the United States Senate Government who are interested in importation of oil into our country with funds that are presently trapped in the FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND dedicated to improving transportation. We wish to send this money to overseas accounts in the MIDDLE EAST but cannot due to restrictions in Congress Transportation Equity Act requiring that this money must be spent to build roads, bridges and high speed trains.

If you accept we will deliver to your a sum of 30 DOLLARS in the summer 2008 in form of a "GAS TAX HOLIDAY". You will then deliver this money to accounts of our friends in Middle East by taking it to your nearby gasoline station where they have information to forward the money. Please supply your bank account, social security number, address and your vote in DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES AND NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

But bear in mind that this transaction requires absolute confidentiality. Do not visit WWW.GASTAXSCAM.COM where there is information about dangers of our proposal and a petition to stop us from this diversion of funds.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

The Bush Administration may have a concealed internal legal opinion which, at their whim, makes any action of the National Security Agency, by fiat, legal, overruling the Fourth Amendment.

... our Office recently concluded that the Fourth Amendment had no application to domestic military operations. See Memorandum for Alberto R. Gonzales, Counsel to the President, and William J. Haynes, II, General Counsel, Department of Defense, from John C. Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Robert J. Delahunty, Special Counsel, Re: Authority for Use of Military Force to Combat Terrorist Activities Within the United States at 25 (Oct 23, 2001). (emphasis added)

2.1 (Captain Dave O'Shaugnessey) Interviewed for all 14 unfilled patrol officer positions; six or seven are in background checks (six weeks to several months), rest awaiting other requirements or have start dates. 171.5 FTEs allocated including ELED and levy positions. No college requirement for an officer; last week eight interviews were conducted; four had degrees, and three about to graduate from college. Nancy asked about diversity of applicants; Capt. O'S. replied they have; Spanish speakers, Asian, other diverse members.

2.2 Increasing training opportunities for all staff.

Certification agency requires only 84 hrs every 3 years; the CCSO dept std is 40 hrs/yr. All supervisors are trained in crisis intervention including dealing with the mentally ill, and 40 of the deputies also trained. Also sharing training w/ other agencies to share costs.

2.4 Work hard to consolidate all staff into one building, very cramped and spread across multiple sites. Want to consolidate all in soon-to-vacate Sunnybrook building (ETA EOY) but civil (required to be in the courthouse), property and special investigations not be consolidated. Will keep the dollar-a-year Shaver building below the County Public Services Complex which was donated by the Feds. County administration not yet approved. Old co. fin plan counted on selling Sunnybrook Building for 5M$ to pay for new Development Services Building, and the county is working on alternatives.

2.5 Open remaining closed jail beds ASAP; 44 remaining just opened. 500 early releases/mo now, this will reduce. New jail needed to eliminate it. Bill commented on War On Drugs as a bad joke.

2.6 Implement inmate work crews as per levy, but will limit to low risk criminals.

2.7 Beginning new design jail construction at current site of Dog Control, ASAP. New podular design will have 880 beds and will staff w/ current jail employees (which only serves less than 500.) Still planning, project management assigned to Capt. Howard.

2.8 Expand CCITF interagency task force, does ton of work on middle- and upper- level criminals, but expect increase in crime in September 2009 when Tri-Met opens Green Line at Town Center. (Ed. note: Tri-Met is unhelpful in addressing concerns.)

2.9 How to use better new staffing from levy; Patrol? Detectives? A full-time crime analyst position was created to watch for crime changes. The department is interviewing the top six candidates within two weeks, with a hire following soon thereafter.

2.10 Relationship between Community Corrections (Parole & Probation, Work Release) now supervised by Co. Administrator) & the CCSO. Decisions of Community Corrections affect what can be done w/ jail resources. Consultant studying now.

2.11 Identify & plan for long term funding; several other counties went to dedicated funding assessment. The CCSO budget was $62M last year, $40M from county general revenue funds, but timber monies are shrinking, which makes more counties shift to general fund sources and consider a dedicated tax assessment just for law enforcement.

Capt. O'Shaugnessy was in a work session w/ Commission last week on creating a county Justice Court (not Community Court, which is similar to a diversion program). Nineteen Oregon counties have 32 Justice Courts for traffic violations, evictions and other landlord-tenant matters, and perhaps code violations. It would increase the county's share of revenue from fines levied, an important financial improvement.

Justice Courts were consolidated into District Courts in the 50s, and in the 90s, District Courts were absorbed into Circuit Courts. Commissioners have authority to establish it, but presiding judge expressed unidentified concerns and then cd not attend the workshop, but judge in Lane Co. (which has a Justice Court) had excellent info. Next step is a month out. Last time it went to commission, one commissioner wanted public input, so all the county's Community Planning Organizations were consulted and all like it.

Now, Commissioner Peterson is new to the commission and needs to be brought up to speed.

Each motor officer writes about 2,000 citations/yr, resulting in 5,000 court appearances with at least 2 hrs off patrol per hearing. A Justice Court would reduce the time motor officers are off patrol and increase service to the public, another of the many advantages of a Justice Court.

3. Surveys: A packet to provide info to the public within the ELED only as well as ask the public their concerns. Dick Jones of the Oak Grove CC did pick some up & had at their 2/20 meeting. Many returns have come back & are ready to compile. (Chair Ralph Radmer arrived). Trish volunteered to compile them and John volunteered to help her with preparing a form to automate the compilation.

4. Patrol: Oregon City plans to annex 166 acres which would remove it from the ELED and Lake Oswego has several single lots to annex as well. Both would remove those properties from the tax base of the ELED. The Commission will consider these annexations at their April 16 public hearing.

A list of categorized calls for service and reported crimes from 1/1/2008 to 10AM today (3/06/200) was distributed. In that period, there were over 9,000 calls for service, resulting in 1,095 reports written.

(Ed. Note: Those reports will be scanned and posted on Clackablog later.)

The new Green Line MAX is due to open in the fall of 2009. The CCSO is concerned more crime at end of the line and the stop preceding is likely, and the department prepares an aggressive plan to discourage crime from the beginning. TriMet says TriMet crime happens on TriMet property, but that excludes crime which led from their property. Gresham, Portland and Hillsboro track crime near TriMet stops, and several years of statistics will help the CCSO understand any changes caused by TriMet-delivered criminals.

(Ed. Note: Sadly, TriMet is not directly responsible to the people, insulated as it is from the electorate by its appointed board.)

Annual incident reports were also provided. Kristin asked for definitions of categories; Capt. O'Shaugnessy noted ORS chapter 160 explains the crime categories. The demarcation between the 99E and 82nd areas is Webster Rd, and 205/Schumacher is the boundary for the Clackamas area.

(Ed. Note: Those reports will also be scanned and posted on Clackablog later.)

5. A revenue forecast was not yet ready for the ELED CAC to consider. Nancy asked what the tax rate is; John noted the original tax rate is reduced by millage caps, a percentage reduction which changes with every change in all assessments as per caps imposted by ballot measures.

6. Election of Chair & Vice Chair for CY2008.

Ralph and John were elected unanimously to serve another term, with no competition or dissent.

7. A free-ranging discussion of possible priorities for the ELED followed, and the perceptions, and misperceptions, of the public. The recurring myth that the ELED does not get what they paid for was dissected, and John explained the cause.

When the ELED was created, a specific goal of (35?) more road deputies was prominent in the original campaign. However, since then, the tax rate caps mandated by statewide ballot measures reduce every tax assessment to fit under the cap, including the ELED tax rate. The people of the ELED are not allowed to pay as much as we need to collect enough to reach that original goal, but the ELED does get what we pay for.

The committee adjourned at 20:10, with the next mtng planned for 18:30 on Thursday 1 May, also in the PTSC unless announced otherwise.

The District was approved by voters in the November 1994 general election and became effective July 1, 1995. Its purpose is to increase the level of sheriff's patrols to meet the increased demand of urban Clackamas County. It serves approximately 85,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County within the Urban Growth Boundary, and the city of Johnson City. - From a county press release.

In Clackamas County, cities were invited to join unincorporated areas within the urban growth boundary in the establishment of an Enhanced Law Enforcement District (ELED) with a tax base which supports an additional .5 officers per thousand in addition to the rural level of .5 per thousand. Johnson City and Happy Valley joined the ELED, but Wilsonville chose to continue its contract with the Sheriff.

Also of interest:

The Clackamas County Sheriff has contracts with Estacada and Wilsonville to provide patrol services. The Sheriff's Office reports that no patrol services are provided to these cities free of charge. The cities pay an hourly rate for patrol services which the Sheriff's Office claims is fully costed, including both departmental and County overhead. The current hourly rate for a deputy is $51.84, and for a lieutenant $60.50.

This link, bcc@co.clackamas.or.us sends an e-mail to all three, using the default e-mail client of your computer. The Commissioner's office may also be reached at phone: 503-655-8581 or by fax at 503-742-5919.

To send a message to only Commissioner Martha Schrader or Commission Vice-Chair Bill Kennemer, put 'Dear Commissioner Schrader' or 'Dear Commission Vice-Chair Kennemer' in the subject line, as per the Commissioner's office with whom I just spoke.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

The current lunch/dinner menu for Casa de Tamales may be found at tinyurl.com/yub5au. Dinner there last week found their asparagas tamales, the same as these folks have served at the Farmer's Market for years, to still be very fine.